Wire stretcher



P. CULLERTON.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3!. I920.

1,415,993., Patentd May 16, 1922.

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PATRICK cutrinnro v, or MANSFIELD, wnsnrneroiv.

WIRE STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd mf 15, 1922 Application filed August 31, 1920. Serial No. 407,132.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, PATRICK GULLERTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Douglas and State of l vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Wire Stretcher, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to pushing and pulling implements, and more especially to stretchers operated on the step by step principle; and one object of the same is to pro-- duce an improved fence wire stretcher which is capable of use between posts within. the run of the fence or beyond the inmost post when the operator reaches the end of said run. 1

Another object is to produce a structure which will easily grip the wire and may be easily placed in engagement with a fence 0st. I

Another object of the invention is to produce simple and efficient means for connecting the device to fence posts of various sizes.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve upon wire stretchers of this character by providing a device which will be of extremely simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, one which is eflicient and reliable in ope-ration, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. I

lVith these and numerous other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the de vice showing same attached to a fence post.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the toothed bar used in connection with my device,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top planview of the step by step mechanism used in connection with my device, and

Figure 4 is a detailed fragmentary prespective view of a portion of my device showing the means used for attaching the device to a fence post. I

Referring to the drawings by numerals it will be seen that the frame of my device consists of the parallel spaced apart plates 1 which are elongated. At one end of each plate and in the corner thereof the ears 2 are provided for receiving the rivets 3 so as to hold the plates in the spaced apart parallel position as shown in the drawing. Intermediate the ends I have also provided ears lso as to receive the rivets 5. Atthe other end of the plate ears 6 are provided atone corner for receiving the rivets 7. In order to attach the frame to the fence post 8 I have mounted upon each plate a hook 9 which has a substantially triangular shape body portion and has one apex thereof provided with an aperture so that the hook may be pivotally attached by meansof a rivet 10 to'the plate 1. Extending from another apex of the body portion is the bent finger 11 which grasps the fence post as clearly.

shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The

base of the body portion opposite the'pivot point isjprovided with a plurality of notches 12 adapted to engage the pin 13 which is seated within an aperture provided in the ear 14 on the plate 1. Thus it will be seen that these hooks are adjustable so as to fit fence posts of various sizes as the pin may be removed and the hooks adjusted to the proper position. It will also be seen that the weight of the frame will cause sufficient binding action as to hold these pins 13 in their respective apertures in the ears 1 Slidably mounted between the plates 1 is the bar 16 having the staggered notches 17 in its sides. One end. of the bar 16 is provided with a cut away portion 18 having the teeth 19 thereon and a pawl 20 is pivoted in this cut away portion 18 by means of a rivet or bolt 21. This pawl is also provided with teeth 22 so that a wire may be placed between the teeth 22 and 19 and of course as the bar 16 is pulled toward the frame in a manner to be hereinafter described the teeth will bite said wire so as to eiliciently hold same in connection with the bar. The harder the bar is pulled the tighter will become the connection of the wire between the teeth.

A lever 23 is formed of two sections, superimposed upon each other and held together by means of rivets or other suitable devices and these sections diverge from each other as shown at 24 and are then bent so as to extend parallel with each other for forming the extensions 25. These extensions 25 are pivoted intermediate their ends as shown at 26 and pawls 27 are pivotally mounted between the extensions 25 upon each side of the pivot point 26 by means of rivets 28 as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The inner ends of these pawls 27 are provided with points so as to eiiiciently engage the staggered teeth 17. Therefore, when the lever is reciprocated, the pawls cause the bar to travel between the plates 1 in a manner which will be clear from a consideration of the drawings. The pawls of course may be manually operated or spring means may be provided if desired in awell known manner.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood without a more extended explanation. As numerous changes in form, proportion, and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of this invention, I do not wish to be limited to the construction herein shown and described other than as claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is 1. In a wire stretcher, the combination with a frame comprising a pair of elongated parallel spaced plates, ears provided 'upon said plates and rivets passing through said ears so as to hold said plate in spaced relation to each other, a bar slidably mounted between said plate, means for causing the progression of the bar in the frame, means for attaching said bar to a wire, and means for attaching the frame to a post.

2. In a wire stretcher, the combination with a frame, a bar slidably mounted in said frame and provided with staggered teeth in its sides, a second bar formed of a pair of sections superimposed upon each other, said sections provided with portions diverging from eachother, parallel extensions extending from the diverging portion, said parallel extensions being pivotally mounted intermediate their ends to the frame, 'pawls pivotally mounted between said parallel sections for engaging the staggered teeth on the bar, means for attaching said'bar to a wire, and means for attaching the frame to a post.

3. In a wire stretcher, a frame, a hook comprising a triangular shaped body portion pivoted at one apex to the frame and provided with notches on the base oppositethe pivoted apex, at finger extending from one apex adjacent the notched base for engaging a post, and means for engaging the notched base so as to hold said body portion in an adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK CULLERTON. lVitnesses H. O. CONN, R. B. Games. 

